How to identify Mile-A-Minute Vine (Ipomoea cairica)

How to identify Mile-A-Minute Vine (Ipomoea cairica)

Mile-A-Minute Vine, also known as Cairo Morning Glory, Railroad Creeper

Mile-A-Minute Vine is a vigorous perennial vine notable for its tuberous roots and fast growth. Its young stems exhibit a distinctive reddish hue. The foliage comprises glabrous, green leaves, ovate in shape with five to seven finger-like lobes. Prominent are the large, showy flowers, lavender blue-purple in color, funnel-shaped, spanning 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) with a deeper purple center. It is cold-hardy to temperatures of 30 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 to 0 degrees Celsius) and shows a preference for full sunlight with regular to occasional watering, even tolerating wet soil conditions.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Herb, Vine

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Mile-A-Minute Vine

Large, lavender blue-purple funnel-shaped flowers, 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) wide with a deeper purple center.

Distinctive tuberous roots, young stems with reddish hue, and glabrous green ovate leaves with lobes.

Dark green, hairless leaves deeply divided into five lance-shaped segments, with prominent vein pattern.

Fruit is a spherical capsule resembling a small marble, containing black seeds with a fuzzy, tomentose coating.

Blooms commonly range from dark pink to light purple, measuring 3.5 - 6 cm (1.4 - 2.4 inches) in length.

Detailed Traits of Mile-A-Minute Vine

Leaf Features

The leaves of mile-A-Minute Vine are dark green and hairless, deeply divided into five lance-shaped segments. The lobes have entire or slightly wavy edges, with the basal pair of lobes being parted. The middle lobe is larger, ovate to ovate-elliptic or lanceolate in shape. Leaves are typically about 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) long, displaying a smooth texture and prominent vein pattern. These characteristics make the leaves distinctive and easy to identify.

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Flower Features

Mile-A-Minute Vine flowers are large, funnel-shaped, and range in color from dark pink to light purple. They measure approximately 3.5 - 6 cm (1.4 - 2.4 inches) in length and 6 - 8 cm (2.4 - 3.1 inches) in width. These vibrant blooms are principally noted for their striking appearance and broad petals, which make them easily distinguishable. The flowers are delicately arranged and emit a subtle, pleasant fragrance. Blooming commonly occurs throughout warmer months, adding a splash of color to their surroundings.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of mile-A-Minute Vine is a spherical capsule, typically around the size of a small marble. Upon maturity, it opens to discharge its contents. Within, one finds black seeds adorned with a fuzzy, tomentose coating. This velvety texture is quite distinctive. The seeds themselves are firmly packed within the capsule, awaiting dispersal. Such characteristics are integral to recognizing the fruit of mile-A-Minute Vine, contributing to its identification among plant enthusiasts.

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Mile-A-Minute Vine and Their Similar Plants

Sweet potato vine vs. Mile-A-Minute Vine: What's The Difference?

While most assume that the sweet potato vine is a potato, it is not considered nightshade. However, sweet potatoes and potatoes both belong to the order of Solanales. Its culinary use is wide and can be fried, baked or boiled.

Common morning glory vs. Mile-A-Minute Vine: What's The Difference?

Common morning glory natives in Mexico and Central America and is commonly planted as an ornamental plant prized for its colorful trumpet-shaped flowers. It is naturalized in temperate and subtropical areas globally and in many places, always grown weedy and is considered to be invasive in many parts of the world.

Blue morning glory vs. Mile-A-Minute Vine: What's The Difference?

Blue morning glory (Ipomoea indica) is a twining evergreen vine native to tropical environments around the world. In the morning, the plant's flowers bloom and are a bright blue. By the end of the afternoon, the blossoms fade to a purple-pink color. New flowers appear daily from late spring to early fall.

Cypress vine vs. Mile-A-Minute Vine: What's The Difference?

Cypress vine is a beautiful vining plant with fern-like foliage and star-shaped red flowers. Cypress vine is resistant to deer and attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. It thrives in moist but not soggy soil, with full sun and a structure to climb on. This striking plant is toxic like its cousin, the Morning Glory.

Mexican morning glory vs. Mile-A-Minute Vine: What's The Difference?

This vining annual, the mexican morning glory, is a great climber for trellises, with heart-shaped leaves and showy blue blooms. Morning glories get their name because they open in the morning and close in the brighter afternoon light.

Moonflower vs. Mile-A-Minute Vine: What's The Difference?

Moonflower (Ipomoea alba) is a flowering plant that blooms at night. Moonflower is also called the moonflower or moon vine, and it is native to Argentina, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Florida in the United States. Moonflower is cultivated for ornamental purposes and is considered an invasive species in some areas.

Man of the earth vs. Mile-A-Minute Vine: What's The Difference?

Man of the earth, or Ipomoea pandurata, is a vining perennial native to North America. Bees and hummingbirds are fond of the white flowers. It grows quickly, and the tubers in the ground are difficult to remove, so it may cause problems for the garden.

Saltmarsh morning-glory vs. Mile-A-Minute Vine: What's The Difference?

Saltmarsh morning-glory (Ipomoea sagittata) is a trailing perennial vine that will grow to 1.8 m long. Native to the southern United States, it can be found in Florida’s marshes and mangrove swamps. It blooms in summer and fall with showy, funnel-shaped pink to purple flowers that bloom in the morning and close in the afternoon. Thrives in full sun to partial shade.

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Key Facts About Mile-A-Minute Vine

Attributes of Mile-A-Minute Vine

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Herb, Vine

Plant Height

4 m

Spread

1 m

Leaf Color

Green

Flower Size

8 cm to 10 cm

Flower Color

Pink

Purple

White

Lavender

Leaf type

Evergreen

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Scientific Classification of Mile-A-Minute Vine

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Nightshades, bindweeds, gooseweeds, and allies

Family

Morning-glory

Genus

Morning glories

Species

Mile-A-Minute Vine (Ipomoea cairica)

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Distribution Map of Mile-A-Minute Vine

Mile-A-Minute Vine is predominantly found across multiple continents, both within its native and introduced ranges. Native to various regions in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands, mile-A-Minute Vine has been introduced to areas in South America and the Caribbean. In some major regions, mile-A-Minute Vine is sometimes thought to be an unwelcome guest, potentially having impacts on local ecosystems. Its establishment in certain territories such as East Asia, parts of the Americas, and Oceania indicates a resilient adaptability that may lead to ecological alterations.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Mile-A-Minute Vine

A Comprehensive Guide to Mile-A-Minute Vine How to Grow and Care for Mile-A-Minute Vine